by Adam Wallace
Once he settled down, the others looked to Pete for instruction. He shrugged and wandered around, looking for clues. He quickly found the note left by the sprite.
‘“Go into the FOREST OF DEATH for the answer,”’ he read out loud. ‘FOREST OF DEATH? The answer? The answer to what?’ Pete turned the piece of paper over and read on. ‘“To anything you want.”’
He looked at the others. ‘Great. Molloy?’
‘It’s obviously a trap, Sweet, but planks for asking me first.’
Smithers rolled his eyes and spoke.
‘It is obviously a trap, Pete, but it’s all we have. Whatever is in there we can overcome it, and we may actually find something worthwhile.’
Pete nodded and looked to Ashlyn and Tahnee. Ashlyn said nothing.
‘I think we should go into the forest, Pete,’ Tahnee said. ‘Smithers is right. We can handle whatever lies in store, and it may lead us to something. There’s nothing in here.’
Pete nodded again. Although in many ways he liked doing things alone, and despite his fears for his friends’ safety, he was starting to feel okay about having a group with him. Ashlyn started walking out of the cave. She was ready for action, and she was ready to find her Marloynne. Pete and the others ran after her. Although they didn’t know it, the second test was about to begin.
As soon as they entered the forest, the light disappeared. It was as though they were back at Ashlyn and Marloynne’s wedding, and Syra Tanooth had taken the light away. The group stayed close, each person keeping some form of contact with the person next to them. Pete walked with his hand on the pack in front of him, which belonged to Molloy. Tahnee walked beside Pete, and she had a hand on his shoulder, a source of both comfort and confusion for Pete. But he made sure he focused on where he was going; although where that actually was he had no idea. He hoped the answer would be revealed to him soon.
The group moved deeper into the forest. The path seemed to go straight ahead. They moved cautiously, yet they made good time. Every now and again something would brush past one of them and the whole group would stop, searching, staring into darkness for a foe they couldn’t see.
Suddenly, Molloy yelled out that he had seen a spark of light and he headed for it. Pete lost his touch on Molloy’s pack, but was glad that he could still feel Tahnee’s hand on his shoulder.
Smithers yelled out for Molloy to come back, to not be stupid, that they had to stick together. As soon as he stopped shouting Pete heard someone running through the forest, and assumed that Smithers had taken off after Molloy. Pete stood still, Tahnee’s hand still on his shoulder. He didn’t know what to do. He decided he would wait for his two friends to return.
‘Tahnee? Ashlyn?’ he said quietly.
There was no response. Pete, unblinking, stared straight ahead as Tahnee’s hand started massaging his shoulder, her fingers bonier than Pete had remembered. Slowly, slowly, raising his hand, he shut his eyes. His hand neared Tahnee’s, closed over it, and then the realisation hit.
That wasn’t Tahnee’s hand.
Tahnee wasn’t there any more.
Neither was Ashlyn.
Or Molloy.
Or Smithers.
Pete McGee was alone on his journey once more, just as he had come to terms with being part of a group.
Well, alone except for the tree branch that had come alive and was massaging his shoulder. Pete tried to lift the branch away, but the grip tightened. It wasn’t massaging any more either. It was gripping hard, and Pete winced, squirming to get away from it. The tree held fast. Pete felt another branch grip his other shoulder. A tree root brushed past his leg, and Pete knew he had to take action or he would be trapped.
He yelled out to the rest of the group for help, but only the trees replied, and they didn’t speak, they just sort of creaked and groaned and one of them sneezed, which was really weird.
The tree root closed around Pete’s ankle, and he started to lose his balance. He struggled with all his might, but it was no good.
He was trapped, and he was all alone.
Chapter Sixteen
More test ‘number two’
Molloy finally stopped running once he realised he had gone off the path. As soon as he stopped, somebody crashed into him. The two bodies fell to the ground in a tangle of arms and legs before Molloy and his mysterious attacker both stood, swords drawn.
‘What’s your morning glory?’ Molloy said as bravely as he could, the darkness of the forest concealing all identities.
‘It’s me, you idiot,’ said a familiar voice.
‘Smithers,’ Molloy said, spitting out the name. ‘Of all the people in all the dark forests in all the world, you had to be the one following me. Where’s Sweet?’
Smithers shrugged, even though no one could see him do it.
‘No idea. I ran after you to try and stop you getting lost. Lucky too: you’re off the path.’
‘I know that, Slick. What about the others?’
Smithers shrugged again.
‘With Pete I guess. We’d better head back and find them.’
Molloy agreed, and the two best of enemies walked back towards the track. Strangely, the path was only revealed thanks to a small light they could see sneaking through the trees. They were so relieved that they never stopped to consider it could be a trap. They never considered that the FOREST OF DEATH was, in fact, alive!
The others hadn’t remained where Molloy and Smithers had left them. Well, Pete wasn’t far from there, as he struggled with the trees that had come alive, but Tahnee and Ashlyn were long gone. They had both heard something, a voice calling them, and it had sounded like Pete, so they had moved towards it. They made sure to stay on the path, even when the voice came from the side.
‘How did he move from under my grip?’ Tahnee wondered aloud.
Ashlyn didn’t answer. Her presence was reassuring to Tahnee, but in terms of getting any helpful advice she had the wrong partner.
‘So what are you saying?’ Tahnee said, pretending she’d had an answer from Ashlyn. ‘The voice we’re hearing that sounds like Pete isn’t actually Pete at all but a trick to lead us away from him, to separate the group and to attack us one by one?’
Ashlyn stopped in her tracks. Tahnee answered her own question.
‘You’re right. Absolutely right. We have to go back and find the real Pete.’
The two turned around and headed back the way they thought they had come.
‘Pete!’ Tahnee yelled. ‘PETE!’
There was no reply. Pete hadn’t heard the cry, and even if he had, he wouldn’t have been able to answer.
The branches tightened around Pete McGee’s arm. The tree roots tightened around his legs. Another swirled in and covered his mouth. He struggled as much as he could, but it was no use. He was lifted off the ground and carried towards the trunks. He dreaded to think what would happen then.
He tried to scream, but nothing came out; his mouth was covered by leaves. He thought he heard someone calling his name, but he couldn’t be sure. To his left he thought he saw a flash of light, but again, he couldn’t be sure.
The branches tightened. Pete saw the flash again, this time he was certain of it. Suddenly, the flash moved at speed towards him. Behind it, lit up by the small light, was a scarred, familiar face from Pete’s past.
‘Smnnhtora?’ Pete said in a muffled voice, before the leaves over his mouth covered his entire face, causing him to pass out.
Molloy and Smithers kept walking. Their eyes had adjusted somewhat to the darkness, and now they could see a little better.
‘I’ve seen that before,’ Smithers said. ‘That tree; I know I’ve seen it before.’
‘Of course you have,’ Molloy said. ‘Of course you can tell the difference between it and the billion other pitch-black trees!’
‘Molloy, if you had any skills as a tracker, you would know that we have seen that tree there too. And that one. We’re walking in circles.’
Molloy didn’t a
nswer. He was certain they were walking in a straight line, and yet they didn’t seem to be getting anywhere. At the same time though, he didn’t want Smithers to be right. He felt strange, acting towards Smithers like he had been, because he knew it was childish and stupid. Once he started though, he couldn’t stop. He felt like he was stuck in his own loop, but he had to keep it up.
Smithers, although he didn’t know it, felt the same as Molloy. The two had more in common than either of them would have liked to admit. But, like Molloy, Smithers couldn’t let up now; he had to keep up with the arguing and the name-calling, for no other reason than it had begun, and regardless of whether he was actually starting to like Molloy.
So they kept walking, in silence now, and they kept passing the same tree, over and over.
They were stuck in a loop of a different kind, and it didn’t seem like there would be any way out.
Ashlyn and Tahnee were also stuck in a loop, but they knew exactly what it was and how they might get out of it. The loop they were stuck in was just off the path; it was a circular patch of grass, surrounded by cobweb-covered trees. In the trees were giant, human-sized spiders with multiple gleaming eyes.
Neither Tahnee nor Ashlyn were usually afraid of spiders, but at the same time, these weren’t your average, everyday spiders. They were hideous; they would scare anyone.
Ashlyn and Tahnee stood side-by-side, hearts pounding. Each had a sword drawn.
‘Are you good at using a sword?’ Tahnee asked Ashlyn.
Ashlyn didn’t reply; ever since her wedding had been destroyed she had become like a machine. She simply ran forward and sliced a leg off one of the spiders as it emerged from its web.
Tahnee almost laughed.
‘That would be a yes then.’
She went to say more, but the spiders began scuttling down from their webs. Well, most of them scuttled—one sort of scuttle-limped, seeing as it was missing a leg and had gooey, green blood oozing out of it. Even in the darkness the spiders stood out, their eyes glowing red in anger. The girls moved closer to each other.
‘Our advantage,’ Tahnee said, ‘is that we have a reason to get out of this. You have Marloynne to rescue. And I have Molloy … and Pete McGee.’
Tahnee flinched a little after speaking. Yes, she had said that out loud. Ashlyn looked at her, and it even seemed as though she was going to speak. She didn’t though. She smiled, and then her eyes went hard and she turned so they now stood back to back. The spiders roared and attacked. (Yes, they roared. What? They are massive human-sized spiders in a forest where there are paths playing on a continuous loop and trees that kidnap one-armed wannabe knights. And you think it’s strange the spiders are roaring? Come on, people! Get with the program!)
Meanwhile, back at the ranch … well, back at the trees that were trying to squeeze the life out of Pete McGee, the trees were trying to squeeze the life out of Pete McGee. If those trees had magical future-seeing minds, which I don’t know if they did or not, but if they did, even then they would not have been prepared for the whirl of action that was about to strike them.
Santora, friend of Pete McGee, and helper of those who need help, attacked the trees without a thought. The long plait that went halfway down his back twirled. His massive forearms flexed, the veins almost popping as he swung his sword. He fought the branches with glee: slicing here, cutting there. Within a minute, Pete had dropped to the ground, and the branches turned their attention to Santora. Suddenly able to breathe again, Pete woke up as he hit the ground. He shook his head, and when it cleared he saw a small man taking on the might of the trees. It WAS Santora! Pete almost laughed, despite everything. He unsheathed his dagger and held it high.
‘Thou art truly here, Santora! I shall not let thee battle these weird, crazy trees alone!’
And with that Sir Pete McGee leapt into the fray, slicing branches, forcing them back. He was fighting purely on instinct, and it made him laugh with joy, the freedom of it, the feeling that it was him and not some routine that was controlling things. Branches whipped and grabbed at him. Leaves tried whipping and grabbing at him too, but only gently stroked his face. His body acted and reacted to everything that came at him, even though he could barely see a thing.
Eventually the two warriors pushed the branches back behind the path.
‘Retreat now, Pete McGee,’ Santora roared, and Pete obeyed. The two ran to a spot safely out of reach of any branches, and they both sat on the ground, panting from the effort of the fight. Santora held out his hand and Pete shook it.
‘It is so great to see you again, Santora. You have a knack for being there when I need help. Why?’
‘It was good fortune, boy, nothing more. I was on my way to describe the state of the roads to the King. Potholes, Pete McGee, there are still potholes everywhere! But that is another matter. Suffice to say, I was walking past, I heard someone in trouble, and so I helped. I did not know the one in trouble was you, but it is good to see you again.’
‘Can you stay?’ Pete asked. ‘We’re going to save Mum and Marloynne. Can you stay and join us?’
Santora shook his head.
‘No, Pete McGee. You have a team. I am not required.’
Pete had been distracted by barely surviving the lethal trees, but at the mention of ‘team’, his thoughts instantly swung back to his friends.
‘I don’t know where they are. They might be in trouble. I have to go and find them.’
He jumped to his feet, but Santora held him back.
‘Do not rush off so wildly. They need your focus and strength, and you need a minute to recover. You must be at your best for your friends when you find them in this forest.’
‘I try to be my best,’ Pete said. ‘But I’ve always done these quests alone, with help from people like you and Sir Loinsteak and Sir Mountable along the way. This one is so different. I feel like all I do is lead the others into danger. I feel like I’m responsible for everyone, that their lives are in my hands.’
‘And that is and should always be true,’ Santora said firmly. ‘The lives of those you love are in your hands. You must do all you can to improve their quality of life. If you focus on the good of others, then you are on the right path. Never forget yourself though, Pete McGee. Don’t make others happy at the expense of your own happiness. If that happens then you are doing it for the wrong reasons. You must be happy too.’
It was all a bit much for Pete to take in; he had almost been killed by man-eating trees only moments before.
‘It’s hard though, Santora. It’s really hard. Look at Molloy and Smithers. They’re my two best friends, and all they do is fight with each other. They’re unhappy, and it’s making me unhappy … and frustrated.’
Santora nodded.
‘You cannot control how others react. But you can control how you behave. And now, I must meet with the King. I am glad we have been reunited. I hope I have been of some help.’
‘Well, you know, what with the whole saving my life and then giving me advice thing, yeah, I think that was pretty good,’ Pete said, laughing. He held out his hand and, as usual, winced a little as Santora shook it.
‘Be strong, Pete McGee. You have greatness within you. Believe in yourself, be the you that every moment requires. And trust in those closest to you. They are risking all for you on this journey. They will not let you down. Go now. Find your friends and complete your quest. You will succeed. I believe in you.’
And with that Santora, Pete’s very own little book of wisdom, turned and started to walk off. Unfortunately, he only took two steps before he fell into a pothole.
‘Are these things everywhere?’ he cried, before clambering out again. As he did so, he called over his shoulder.
‘Your friends could use your help right now. The girls are fighting giant spiders and the boys are stuck in a never-ending loop. Take this, and shake it when the light dulls.’
The little light Pete had seen earlier suddenly flew towards him, landing at his feet. He bent
and picked it up. It was a small, glowing rock, as smooth as anything Pete had ever held.
‘Thank you, Santora, and good bye.’
All he received in reply was a grunt, and Pete McGee was alone once more.
Chapter Seventeen
Does whatever a spider can
Molloy and Smithers sat on the ground, dazed. They had been walking and walking, yet they always ended up in the same spot. The forest had even brightened up a little, making it more obvious that they were stuck in a loop. But they kept on walking, speeding up only to go nowhere at all.
Now they sat. They sat on the ground facing each other. And they let it all out.
‘Seriously, this all your fault. You and your weird talking,’ Smithers began.
‘Oh, and it couldn’t be all about you being a lion’s mane,’ Molloy replied.
‘I seriously don’t even know what that means!’
‘It means I think you’re mellow.’
‘Isn’t that a good thing?’
‘Toe.’
‘SPEAK NORMALLY, YOU DOOFUS!’
Molloy jumped at the strength of Smithers’ voice. He recovered his composure though. If this was to be a name-calling exercise, he was up for it. He wasn’t too old for a bit of childishness. He smiled and pretended to be calm as he returned fire.‘Doofus? Not very creative, you rat-brained, chicken-lipped, alligator’s breath. No wonder Pete likes me better.’
Smithers glared at Molloy.
‘There it is. You think Pete likes you better when it isn’t even true. Okay. You want me to be creative? Oh, I’ll be creative you unchin-snouted, mouldy-eyed, ear-wax-eating slug-kisser.’
Molloy turned away, pretending he was offended, but really it was to hide the slight smile that had formed. Slug-kisser. That was a good one. He was going to have to work for this.
‘Yeah? Well, mummy’s boy, you are smellier than someone who was born on Planet Smelly, got named Lord Smells-a-lot, got hit with the smelly stick, and then took an overdose of smelly pills.’